Ukrainian counter-offensive meets Russian defense: ‘It was a wall of steel’

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Has Ukraine now launched a counter-offensive against the Russian occupiers? Many international observers think: yes! Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (45) also fueled speculation over the weekend. “Counter-offensives and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine, but I will not say what stage they are at,” he said. His generals are in good spirits, the Ukrainian president continued. “Tell that to Putin.”

The news has long since reached Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin (70), according to publications by the Russian state news agency Tass. All attempts at a counter-offensive had “failed,” the 70-year-old said the day before Selenski’s announcement. In this way, Ukraine will “by no means” achieve its goals. On the propaganda battlefield, the offensive is in full swing.

‘They were just waiting for us’

Business is also increasing at the front. However, those who hoped that Western weapons would allow the Ukrainians to easily march through the counter-offensive have so far been disappointed.

Heavy fighting with casualties on both sides is documented on several front sections. The US Institute for War Studies (ISW) recognizes “offensive actions” in four sections, according to Washington. In the Zaporizhia region in the south of the country, Ukrainian troops managed to achieve “local successes”. The Ukrainians say they have regained the upper hand in hard-fought Bachmut. And also on Sunday there were local success reports from the Ukrainians.

The Wall Street Journal quotes a Ukrainian soldier who allegedly took part in the attack near Zaporizhia: “They were just waiting for us. Defense positions were set up everywhere,” he says. “It was a wall of steel.”

The Russians are mainly targeting the Western weapons that have been brought into the country in recent months and on which the Ukrainians are pinning their hopes: modern systems such as the Leopard or Bradley tanks. The Russian propagandists, who have not had much success in recent months, celebrate every Leo murder (real or fake). Some of the alleged evidence and reports of success have been exposed as forgeries or diversionary tactics. In other cases, the Western device was actually damaged or destroyed.

When will the big break come?

Despite such ugly images: experts reassure that losses should be expected at such an early stage of the counter-offensive. “Not a big surprise”, concludes Colonel Markus Reisner of the Austrian Armed Forces, as he says in an interview with the “FAZ”: “The offensive has only been going on for a few days. It could just be that the Ukrainians suddenly break through and gaining space. There is still a positive mood among Russian war bloggers because of the defensive successes – but that could change at any time.”

Ukrainians hope for such a breakthrough. If you fail to achieve success, support for Western arms supplies threatens to falter. The moment of truth has arrived for Ukraine.

Source: Blick